No-smoking law comes in for criticism by Trinidad public
|
| Published on Tuesday, November 18, 2008 |
Email To Friend Print Version |
By Oscar Ramjeet
Caribbean Net News Special Correspondent
Email: oscar@caribbeannetnews.com
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The Trinidad and Tobago government has introduced legislation prohibiting smoking in public places, but some members of the public are not in agreement with the proposed law, with one man saying that the government was treating smokers as lepers were treated in the past.
The Bill is aimed at protecting persons from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke at all public places.
The Trinidad Express reported that that, apart from office buildings, educational and health institutions, the Bill also includes public transportation, terminals, bars, clubs and pool halls as banned areas.
The penalty for non compliance is a fine of $10,000.
Debate on the Bill known as the Tobacco Control Bill 2008 will commence on Tuesday in the Senate and it will require three-fifths majority before it becomes law.
The Trinidad Express asked members of the public to comment on the proposed legislation. Kareem Gomez, a non smoker said, "I believe there should have been a gradual progression, but there is no doubt that some law is needed because secondhand smoke is dangerous.”
John Jameson, a smoker for the past ten years said, "I understand not smoking in office and schools, but a bar, that is real wickedness, it just not right. They [are] treating smokers like how lepers were treated in the past."
The Managing Director of West Indian Tobacco Company, Pierre du Coudray, said that his company respected the government's role in bringing legislation to reduce the negative impact of tobacco in public health.
"We support regulation that balances the interests of smokers and non smokers and we have embarked on an accommodation programme which limits non smokers involuntary exposure to ETS (environmental tobacco smoke) while allowing adult consumers to smoke in a comfortable environment," de Coudray said in a release. | | | | Reads : 711 | | | |
|
|
